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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Monday, May 19, 2008

Mercury Marine hopeful even as parent company struggles

By The Associated Press

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (AP) — Officials at Mercury Marine say the Fond du Lac company is reassessing its strengths after its parent company announced a manufacturing slowdown.

Mercury Marine makes boat engines as a subsidiary of Brunswick Corporation, based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Last week Brunswick said it will close a production facility in its boat-building division on July 1.

Shutting down the plant in Newberry, South Carolina will eliminate 175 jobs.

Mercury spokesman Steve Fleming says he doesn’t expect the shutdown to affect Mercury’s sales. He says the company is actively working with dealers to make sure they keep stocking Mercury engines.

But Brunswick’s chief executive isn’t as optimistic. Dustan McCoy says the economy and fuel prices are taking their toll on consumer spending.